Professional Development, and why I'd rather sneak off and dive into my giant mound of paperwork.

Eduspeak - one of the presenters said as she was introducing the topic " now, as we move from the why to the how,. . . . " - knowing that we would all know what that means.  I don't think that i was thinking of the same why and how that she wanted me to be thinking of. 

And a quote from the 30 minute reading that they gave us time to do.  "Of the books that I have authored, these lend the most support my claim:"  and then he lists a good half a dozen of his books.  

And I sat there, literally watching my email inbox fill up for the morning.  

  

Hmph

The nook is deader than a doorknob.  REAL books never have this problem!  (Should have grabbed a REAL book!)

Sunday Sunday Sunday

Oh, it's already going too fast!  I'm lamenting it's loss, and it's only 9 a.m.  Caitlin returns from her SNOWBOUND trip today.  It's a church sponsored weekend up in a cabin near Buena Vista, with NO ELECTRONICS!! (gasp)  just your bible and your youth group friends.  I can't wait to see her.

Abi had a pretty great sister free weekend, but is eager to have her home too.  She had a rummage through Caitlins room, hung out on her loft bed with the cat, and enjoyed our undivided attention.  And, we are eating Cheetos and watching the Hunger Games for a second time - giggle.

Grandma was over all day yesterday - it was a very good day.  She was telling me stories of other residents, and sounded more herself than she has .. .  since before her fall.  I said to myself, "Roberta is back. "  She has been through so much since November, - so that makes just 2 and a half months.  Unbelievable.  So, I think I hope that she is still going to settle out close to where she was before her fall.



My post - Pros and cons of living in "the home" as Roberta calls it.  Con - giving "the Gillis honk" as you drive away probably isn't appreciated by the other residents.  
and Mom's post - It is so nice to be away from the home for the bewildered where the same story is retold a second time before you have a chance to leave the table! 

Next weekend is the Broncos go to the Superbowl - Superbowl Sunday.  I owe my Auntie Fran a taunting phone call, and she is a huge Seahawks fan (Vashon Island).  Maybe I can squeeze that in today.

Me - I had my SAMs meeting at Vista Peak Prep - basically an evaluation.  They love me, I feel appreciated, it's a good place to be.  I need to take the time now to polish up my portfolio - and I'll be all set for the next one!

What else.  Kevin is working out this morning taking a momentary break from his home improvement projects.  I know I've described this before, but once more - he started by painting the entire outside of the house himself, replaced a window in the small downstairs bathroom; which lead him INSIDE the house.  Now he's redone that bathroom, and is starting the laundry room and fireplace room.  Go KEVIN!

Hey Mom

"Hey Mom", Caitlin says.  She's been sitting beside me reading what I'm typing into an IEP.

"Don't you ever just want to say "the student is bad at learning".  She's obviously impressed with the convoluted process of qualifying a student for a specific learning disability.  We discuss how you need to say it just so on the eligibility determination.  We start giggling.  "She sucks at words and numbers" we decide would be a good summary of the evidence collected.  "words and numbers and stuff" if you don't want to sugar coat it.

 

You say apartment, I say Home for the Slightly Bewildered

Well, at least she still has her sense of humor.  (This post Title is inspired by a Nana quote today.)

I'm a busy gal, so I gotta make this short.  I went in to work today, Saturday, and spent the first 2 hours just fixing my calendar.  On several Thursdays this semester, I will have 1:15 minutes of Language class, to be followed by 4 hours of Linguistics class.  I'm hoping they help me figure out why they think it's best to teach the phonetically challenged that "ex"  sounds like /e/g/s/., "ax" sounds like /a/k/s/ I can buy, but /e/g/s/?  And, why I have to spend time trying to convince them that /aw/ and /o/ are completely different sounds, when everyone who thinks the sky is blue - can't tell the difference.

Good night!  I'll take my petty phoneme problems to bed tonight.  Until then, I'll be reading Life after Life.  Pretty good so far.  

   

Happy birthday hunny bunch

Awh - Last Day with BJ

We know it's for the best.  Nana only had BJ since summer time, but he sure was a good boy!  Good company!  Now that she's in an apartment, it's proven just too overwhelming for mom to try to manage the dog.  Part of the problem is that Nana still seems to be of the opinion that humans shouldn't have to live in apartment buildings, let alone dogs.

Serendipity - Fortuitousness - Carol Haman and I both went to coffee this week . . . Carol talking about their beloved old Jack Russell terrier getting old, and me about Nana.  I started simmering on it, and called Carol so that she could simmer on it too, badda boom badda bing (actually, It was an emotional roller-coaster ride with Roberta, fueled by her memory problems - ugh!  I'm so glad it's done!) BJ is the newest member of the Hamon clan!  Lucky everybody!  It feels good, it feels right, and we can visit if we want.)

I sure hope they enjoy him as much as I think they will, and I know BJ will be very happy with their boys, Corky, and Carol and Phil.  It was very reassuring to see BJ and Corky looking out the front door at us, wagging their little tails in unison, and then toddling off together into the house.  Farewell BJ!  You will be missed.

 

Finally Family Fondue!

So my do over day was much better.  Fondue note to self:  Don't buy enough food for 20 people when you're only feeding 5.  We had so much dipping variety that we WAY over did it.

But, I should happily be able to say check off 1 family tradition for the holidays.  (and that makes about 1 this year.)

 

One of US

One of us is trying to take a nap.

One of us is just being a pain in the butt.